Ina Ray Hutton and Her Melodears - Truckin'

All-female dance band of the 30s.
Leader and singer: sexy Ina Ray Hutton

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• swing
• 30s
• sexy
• dance
• band
• tap

[bancoran]

Triple threat: bandleader, singer, and hot hoofer. What a combo! Puts today's singers to shame.

[northbreed1]

Ina Ray: one of the best and least heralded female entertainers in America in the 30s and 40s. Another superlative Ina upload from janklompstra. Bravo!

[cboncklis]

@Afropolis2 Also, no one has amy proof that Mae West has black ancestry. It is all assumption made by the author of the book Mae West: Black and White Icon, Jill Watts, because she loved the Blues, the Dixie music and was sympathetic to black people. Does that make her black? No! White people back then did love that music and some of them were sympathetic to black people. How narrow minded is the author? A lot! She was criticized by many critics for playing the race card.

[cboncklis]

@Afropolis2 As for Mae West, it's racist to think that a white woman could not be sexual in an earthy way and love the blues unless she is black. It’s like saying "all blacks are good dancers" and "all whites are not". The argument of "What's wrong if she's a little black?" can be countered with "What's wrong if she's all white?" Mae West did not fit the stereotype of white women of her era, so people needs to find some trace of something to cram her into a comfortable stereotype.

[cboncklis]

@Afropolis2 I heard Susan Porter, the daughter of June Hutton, saying that her grandmother said she was part Cherokee and it was the reason why she had black hair. Is there any proof that she was lying to her grand-daughter? No, and no one who could validate anything that was said is alive. I read that White and Native American children were also called mulatto back then.

[cboncklis]

@Afropolis2 You only have to look at her to realize what I am saying. I know you will say that I am a racist and it is not the case, I am just stating facts. She did not “pass” as white because she was white, even if she had some black ancestry. I am three quarter French and a quarter English, does that make me English? No, I am French and I had to learn English as a second language.

[cboncklis]

@Afropolis2 OMG, what a hypocrite! You would not give a second glance her way if she did not have some black ancestry. It is obvious that she predominantly white, but as usual some African American will call someone black even if they have only 1% black blood in them. If two mice (one white and one black) have one white baby mouse, would you say it is a black mouse? No! The same logic applies here. She would be considered Caucasian because she had no black characteristics.

[StoneVH]

I was just listening to NPR and they were talking about this hot female band leader from the 30's (I didn't know they existed), and how talented she was, and how 1/2 Black she was!! It was a great piece. They mentioned her dying her hair, changing her name from Odessa, and even comments from family members. So, I had to check her out. I had to SEE her, and I think the proof is in the puddin' - and, girlfriend has some puddin'! Unbelievable talent.

[Afropolis2]

Her name was Odessa Cowan and she dyed her hair and passed for white when she entered showbusiness in her teens. I knew there was something extra special about this fine, bootylicious, singing,dancing, swinging white woman! Mae West was part black too!! I already loved them both very much as American women, but now I'm really proud of their talent and happy for their successes! I'll bet she knew Blanche Calloway, Cab's big sister who preceded her as a female bandleader by 10 years.

[dominiquejazz]

and all the musicians are playing by memory!

[theylied1776]

@pgc2012 That used to happen a lot back then.

[inBeta400]

Amy Poehler will star in the biopic.